Colts continue epic turnaround at K.C.

Dec. 23, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Indianapolis Colts strong safety Joe Lefeged (right) is tripped up after recovering a fumble by Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles in the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-13. John Sleezer, Kansas City Star/MCT

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St. Louis Rams tight end Lance Kendricks (right) runs 80 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ahmad Black at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. CHRIS ZUPPA, MCT

Indianapolis Colts strong safety Joe Lefeged (right) is tripped up after recovering a fumble by Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles in the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-13. John Sleezer, Kansas City Star/MCT

The incredible Indianapolis Colts completed one of the quickest turnarounds in NFL history Sunday at Kansas City.

They scratched out a 20-13 victory over the Chiefs — despite allowing 352 yards rushing — to clinch an AFC playoff berth, one year after the Colts went 2-14 to win the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes.

Indianapolis was 1-2 when first-year Coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, 60, forced out of Pittsburgh because he was too old, or some such nonsense, took over the Colts, and by all rights should be the first interim to win NFL Coach of the Year.

The fact that the Steelers have played themselves out of the playoffs with QB Ben Roethlisberger and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley at odds simply adds to the Arians story line.

Indianapolis wanted him because he had once worked well with Peyton Manning, the man Luck replaced. Who knew that Arians, last a head coach at Temple in 1988, could handle an entire pro team so well?

At 10-5, the Colts are only the second NFL team to win in double figures after a 14-loss season, after the 2008 Miami Dolphins (11-5 after going 1-15).

That didn't stop Luck from breaking Cam Newton's year-old rookie-passing-yardage record or from hitting veteran Reggie Wayne with the decisive TD pass with 4:08 left. The same combination clicked for the same result Oct. 7, when the Colts defeated the Green Bay Packers, 30-27, in their first game without Pagano.

Indianapolis likely won't last long in the playoffs — the defense, Pagano's specialty, still is very much a work in progress.

But it has been a remarkable journey for the Colts, with cheerleaders and players shaving their heads in support of Pagano — who, to make the remarkable story complete, is expected to return to the sideline in Week 17 against the Houston Texans.

Arians, 9-3 in his place, will gladly go back to just organizing the offense.

Steel City crumbles: Earlier this week, Steelers great Jerome Bettis called Arians' firing a mistake during a radio interview. Most NFL observers conceded that long ago, although former Chiefs coach Haley appeared headed for another head-coaching gig when Pittsburgh was 6-3. The Steelers are 1-5 since.

Just as in its overtime loss last week at Dallas, Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati in Week 16 on a field goal after a Roethlisberger interception, one of two Steelers turnovers in the final 24 seconds.

Only this was at home, eliminated one of the NFL's traditional powers from the playoffs, and left the Steelers 0-3 since Roethlisberger returned — to find his offensive line seriously depleted by injuries.

Marvin Lewis' Bengals clinched a playoff spot with their first victory in their past 10 games against division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Cincinnati closes the regular season next week at Baltimore, just in case the Bengals want to get that bit of unfinished business out of the way before next season.

His second home: St. Louis rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins sparked the Rams to a road victory at Tampa Bay with an interception return for his fourth defensive TD of the season, three on picks and one on a fumble return.

Fox broadcasters Ron Pitts and Mike Martz suggested Jenkins might eventually play some offense for the Rams because of his ball skills and running ability.

Jenkins had issues at Florida before transferring to North Alabama, and thus was a risky second-round choice by new Rams coach Jeff Fisher. He's been a starter from Day One, though, except for the game at San Francisco when he and fellow rookie Chris Givens (a fourth-round steal at wide receiver) were benched by Fisher for a curfew violation.

Givens and Jenkins are just two of 17 Rams rookies. St. Louis was eliminated from the playoffs Sunday, but it takes a 4-0-1 division record into its final game at Seattle.

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